Page 22 of Striking Heat

“Are you going to look?” she asks when she notices that I haven’t even picked up my menu.

“I thought you said the fish tacos were killer. I was just planning on getting those.” I grin at her, and she grins back, which I mark down in the win column.

“So, you’re just planning on getting those, huh? For all you know, I could be playing around with you.”

“Are you?” I ask.

Our eyes lock. It’s like we’re in a staring contest. But I don’t dare be the first one to break contact. The look in her ocean blue eyes is intense. Her cheeks heat with a bit of a flush, and her lipsare slightly parted. I think about how I would like to reach across this table and take a bite of that lip.

“Here is your guac.” Stella brings it over and places it onto the table, along with some chips and salsa. And even though Mackenzie feels so warmly toward her, I want to shoo her away so that this little stare off can continue.

Without looking away from me, Mackenzie says, “Thanks, Stel. We’ll take two orders of fish tacos.”

“Okay.” Her tone is concerned. She pauses at the table for a moment, probably trying to figure out if either of us is going to look in her direction, but we don’t.

Finally, Mackenzie laughs and snags a chip with guac on it. “Hmm,” she moans as she munches, immediately reaching for another one.

I decide to give it a try too. “This is amazing. How have I never known about this place?”

She laughs at me again. “Well, that’s because you probably don’t travel too far out of your comfort zone. Stick with me and I’ll get you out of it.”

“Get me out of what?” I liked the way she said the words. The lowness of her voice. It almost made it sound dirty.

“Your comfort zone.” She shakes her head at me. “What else would I be talking about?”

“Yeah, I don’t know,” I say, trying to play it off.

But she’s grinning at me like she’s found out all my hidden secrets.

“So, when do you want to start asking me questions?” She’s practically bouncing in her seat. It’s probably the guac that’s making her so happy. Like she’s been starving all day, and the food is giving her happy vibes or something.

“Mackenzie, I can’t begin asking you questions yet. I have to run all of this by my editor, Martin, and then set up a timeline with the paper. The timeline will be run by Maxwell to make sure that he’s okay with it. Once we have that approved, then I canstart asking you questions.” She just nods, so I continue. “I’m sorry if you misunderstood.”

“Call me Mac. If you don’t want to irritate me, please stop calling me Mackenzie.”

“She calls you Mackenzie.” I gesture over toward where Stella is standing behind the counter.

“She does. But I’m asking you to call me Mac, please. Plus, you had no problem calling me Mac when you said I lacked attack.” She winks at me as she pops another chip covered in guac into her mouth.

She’s beautiful, adorable, and the best part is that she doesn’t even seem to know it. I wish I could lean in closer and tell her those things. I shake my head to try to get rid of those thoughts.

“What?” she asks. “What was the shake of your head for?”

“Nothing, sorry. I just thought it was the perfect heading.”

“Uh-huh.” She’s not buying it, but I don’t have to worry about it because the food arrives.

She does a happy dance as she bites into the taco. It’s so adorable. I smile and watch her, having yet to take a bite of my own plate. It does smell heavenly, but so is the sight in front of me. I have to tear my eyes away to look at the four carefully plated fish tacos with a side of rice.

“This looks delicious.” I grin and pick up a taco.

“Tastes even better,” she says between bites.

I don’t miss that she’s already finished one and is working on another. I swear my grin spreads wider.

“Don’t make fun of me. I’m an athlete. I just practiced. I need some good fuel.” Sticking her tongue out at me, her eating continues.

“I know, I know,” I reply and take a bite of my own food. I moan.